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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

This week - last year - I began a book called Wolfskin, the a historical fiction book with fantasy overtones that I went on to enjoy immensely. It's set in the 9th century in Scotland's Orkney Islands and includes magic, romance, a murder-mystery, and VIKINGS! No, not the team.

I recommend it to all of you (it is "grown up fiction" and it's pretty long, at over 500 pages) but besides the book, this was the first time I'd ever read anything by Juliet Marillier, who is now one of my absolute favorite authors.Have you read any of her books?

Real quick: Why I like JM: She is a master storyteller. Detail is something I like, and especially if it's historical fiction, I like to feel really transported back in time. Authors who do their research and really put forth a lot of detail are extremely admirable.Her characters are perfect. No, I don't mean they never do anything wrong, I mean they are perfectly crafted: real enough to be relate-able but good enough to really inspire you. Even her villains are well-crafted and given touches of humanity, making them incredibly interesting and fun to explore.Her stories are brilliantly paced and executed. Yeah, sometimes it may seem like her plots drag, but there's always so much going on, so many layers of exploration...it's exciting!

What she's famous for:(Probably her most famous series is:)The SEVENWATERS books - based on the fairy tale of "The Six Swans," set in early IrelandDaughter of the ForestSon of the ShadowsChild of the ProphecyHeir to SevenwatersSeer of Sevenwaters

The BRIDEI CHROINCLES - based on the life on a Pictish king, set in 6th century Scotland(I read these, and they are amazing)The Dark MirrorBlade of FortriuThe Well of Shades

The LIGHT ISLES Saga - set in Viking Scandinavia and the Orkney IslandsWolfskinFoxmask

WHISTLING TOR - her newest non-Sevenwaters book! Set in Norman conquest Ireland & based on the legend of "Beauty and the Beast"!!Heart's Blood